Phoenix Knitting Forums

It's my friends 60th birthday at the end of Feb. and I want to make her something special, so with the help of you guys I've decided on a lace stole for her I've found the perfect one for her http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/india-stole I know for a fact that this is the one she would chose but, I've never done lace before and some of the pictures scared the out of me but I'm also very exited at the same time

Can someone please tell me it'll be easier that I think, and what on earth are those things ( ) that look like huge long needles up the sides and ends keeping it looking square, are they just to show if off at it's best, and will it just crumple into a horrible mess once they've been removed

I'm almost talking myself out of that one and doing this one instead http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library ... tail-shawl I know she'll love this one as well, but I just know the India one is perfect for her


HELP!!!

oooh beautiful, that really will be a special present.
Don't be put off, tips
get yourself a nice circular needle, addi lace are scrummy to use, they have a finer point and make it easier to work with fine yarn.
use life lines - they will save your sanity if you have to rip back at all, (which you probably will)picking up YO's is difficult,
the long straight things along the side are blocking needles. you can manage without these, your lace will look like a scrumpled holey dishcloth until it is blocked and then it will magically transform into a huge work of art. it won't shrink back once you remove the blocking needles. you can manage just by using pins and carefully pinning it out. we'll guide you through that later.
because you work with reasonably sized needles it actually knits up much faster than you think
are you going to add the beads? i haven't done that before but i bet it will look lovely.

don't be scared of this project it'll be the first of many and your friend will be over the moon.
good luck and enjoy
x

Phew thank you so much Joy I really, really want to do the India one for her, I'm getting all exited about it and can't wait to start thank you for the tips , I'm off to look for the addi lace circ. and then off to try and find someone who will dye me some special yarn for her, and hopefully, as was suggested on my other thread, maybe name it after her as well

you can't go far wrong with our very own vikki wild fire fibres on etsy though i don't know what she's dying at the moment but it'd be worth pming her. her yarn is scrummy and good value. and there are several other phoenixes that dye yarn who would be pleased to help out. personally i always think luxury lace weight is very good value you couldn't knit a "nice" jumper for a fraction of the price of a superb shawl.

What size addi lace do you need, I may have one lurking for you to borrow if it helps?

It is a stunnung wrap!!!

Kirsty
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Ooh, thanks Kirsty the pattern says to use a 3.25mm needle

The more I read the pattern, the more confused I get but I guess it'll all make sense once I get started

What length do you want the cable? I have a 60cm one here not in use with no plans any time soon if it helps for now. PM me your address and I'll post it ASAP!

Kirsty
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That is a really beautiful shawl.
I was really scared when I made my first lace shawl. But thanks to the advice from the ladies on the forum I used lifelines. That way if I did make a mistake I didn`t have to frog too much and I knew exactly where I was in the patter.

Don`t be scared. If you get stuck just yell. Someone will be here to help you out.
Good luck.

It's a beauty & we'll always help you out if you need it.

Does it have a chart? If not then personally I 'write' the chart out on a spreadsheet, not only do I need to 'see' the pattern as it makes more sense to me personally than just written down, but I also find that I can use a ruler to keep my place on the chart

Don't be worried if it looks like a pile of multi-coloured spaghetti that's been chucked at a plate while you're knitting it; lace looks like that till it's been blocked, then it all opens up and the effect is magical Keep us posted on your progress